# Democratic Socialists Now Lead LA, NYC, DC, and Seattle

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/democratic-socialists-now-lead-la-nyc-dc-and-seattle
- Published: 2026-11-07T20:07:55.380895+00:00
- Topics: democratic-socialism, los-angeles, mayoral-election, dsa, immigration-enforcement

## What the left says
- These victories reflect genuine grassroots organizing, with volunteers knocking on over 110,000 doors in Los Angeles alone to build coalitions beyond traditional socialist activists.
- Raman's win demonstrates that pragmatic, results-focused governance—what she calls 'sewer socialism' or 'pothole politics'—can win over voters frustrated by housing costs, homelessness, and establishment failures like Bass's handling of the Palisades Fire.
- Voters across multiple major cities are rejecting politicians seen as beholden to billionaires and corporate interests in favor of leaders promising affordability and accountable government.
- Democratic socialism is proving it can build broad coalitions, including gains among young voters and growing support among Latino voters, rather than remaining a niche ideological movement.

## What the right says
- Four of America's twenty largest cities, representing roughly 44 million people in their metro areas, are now governed by mayors affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, raising concerns about the policies' effects on crime, real estate, and business climate.
- Many of these newly elected officials, including Raman, lack prior executive experience, raising questions about their readiness to manage complex city governments facing crises like homelessness and housing shortages.
- The ideological commitments of these officials, including DSA's internal disputes over Israel and policing, suggest governance could be driven by activist priorities rather than practical city management.
- Celebrity and elite entertainment-industry endorsements for candidates like Raman reflect a disconnect between Hollywood elites and the everyday concerns of residents in cities already struggling with high costs and dysfunction.

## Common ground
- Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race by a margin of roughly 52% to 48%.
- Affordability, housing costs, and homelessness were central issues driving voter frustration in Los Angeles.
- Karen Bass's handling of the 2025 Palisades Fire damaged her standing with voters ahead of the election.
- Four of the twenty largest U.S. cities—Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and Seattle—are now led by mayors affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America.

## Sources
- [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/11/05/nithya-raman-la-mayor-upset-democratic-socialist) (Lean Left)
- [Blaze Media](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/escape-from-la-think-hollywood-had-problems-before-meet-new-mayor-nithya-raman) (Right)
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/4-nations-largest-cities-led-socialist-mayors-tuesday-election-affecting-tens-millions) (Right)
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/houston-mayor-bolts-early-ice-cooperation-blue-wave-crashes-texas) (Right)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/houston-mayor-signs-order-limit-cooperation-ice_n_6aee1413e4b0d00572fd39c8) (Left)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/07/los-angeles-mayor-nithya-raman-progressives-dsa) (Left)

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